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Seasonal Trip Ideas

With more holiday break offerings in the Galapagos than any other tour operator, ROW is the #1 option for vacationing in the Enchanted Isles during the holiday season. We offer a variety of options ranging from land based tours, island hopping, family-focused trips, Christmas cruises and even our signature Unbound tour.

Make this holiday season one to remember by spending it amongst penguins, seals, and other wildlife in a winter wonderland! You're guaranteed a white Christmas, complete with penguins tobogganing down the snow, and, with a little luck, extraordinary whale sightings!

Explore some of the most beautiful beaches in the world on a kayak adventure to the magical Isla Espiritu Santo, just off the coast of La Paz in Baja. The awe-inspiring scenery and native wildlife make for a amazing adventure sure to please kayakers and wildlife enthusiasts alike!

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Trip Details

Trip Overview

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Baja whale watching combined with Sea of Cortez kayaking in Loreto makes this tour a guest favorite. One guest described it as, "It's hands-down one of the most incredible wildlife encounters I've ever had. As I pet a massive gray whale mother, I somehow began to understand my insignificant place in this world. It's humbling and thrilling at the same time."

Baja whale watching allows you to get up close and personal with gorgeous gray whales in Magdalena Bay's calving lagoon. You are so close, you can literally pet whales as they bob their head up out of the water to say hello. In kayak, you'll be able to cross the waters of the Baja Peninsula alongside dolphins, sea lions and more whales! It's an unforgettable kayak tour as you see these sea animals from a much closer distance than doing it aboard a boat. Embrace the opportunity to snorkel the warm, blue-green waters of pocket coves with sea lions and colorful fish.

Detailed Description

Baja Whale Watching

Baja whale watching in Magdalena Bay is unique in that it's protected from the Pacific by a series of arid islands. There are actually a lot of advantages to having these sandy islands safeguard Magdalena's lagoons from strong ocean currents. Not only does it create a safe haven for winter whales to mate and give birth to their young, but the special conditions also allow for the flora and fauna in the area to be at its finest. You can expect mangled mangroves, huge sand dunes and a variety of desert plants in their full glory to be among the sights to see on your Baja whale watching tour.

The gray whales may have had to travel 5000 miles from the Bering Strait in order to get to the safety of the bay, but you won't have to travel nearly as far to view them tending to their newborn calves. A motorized skiff will take you swiftly and safely into the deeper parts of the bay, where you won't just view the "mommy and me" action, you'll actually be able to pet some of the whales that swim by! Unlike other companies, you can actually see whales right from your camp site!

You have further options included with this Baja whale watching package. When it comes to watching whales, you can either join us for a one-day, breathtaking excursion by motorboat, or stay three days at our independent whale camp located on a remote beach and convenient to the best spots for gray whale sightings. If you choose to stay at our camp, you'll also be delighted by a host of other wildlife such as dolphins, seals, sea gulls, pelicans and more! A friendly guide will be on hand to give you the lowdown on the dizzying array of plants, birds and other things that make Magdalena Bay so great.

Before or after your stay at the bay, you'll head over to Loreto for three to five days of ocean kayaking and camping. Like Magdalena Bay, Loreto Bay National Marine Park also has exclusive islands, the waters of which are home to blue-footed boobies, fin whales, blue whales, dolphins and sea lions.

The Sea of Cortez is the perfect spot for a mini vacation and whale watching. With so many things to see and do, not a single member of your party will ever find themselves bored. You can kayak, hike or snorkel, or take in the assortment of animals and massive whales. All make for a great time, and all are under the prestigious umbrella of being part of a recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site. Days of sunshine and warm, glass-like waters make the Sea of Cortez (and Loreto Bay Park in particular) an awesome alternative to the same old Hawaii come winter.

With any of these tours, your first and last night will include a hotel in Loreto. There will also be one "comfort stop" during the transition from kayaking to whale watching. The other nights are spent in fun, tented beach camps. All of your activities will be led by naturalist guides, who won't just serve you information, but chile relleno and margaritas, too!

After checking into pre-assigned rooms (included in trip cost), you're on your own for sightseeing until the orientation meeting (6 or 7 PM) in the hotel lobby, where your guides will answer questions and review the morning plan.

It's time for your wonderful whale watching experience at Magdalena Bay. Located off of Baja California's west coast, it is the wintering grounds of the magnificent gray whale. Imagine the excitement you'll feel getting closer than the average human to these incredible creatures. You get two great nights of camping and three days of whale watching.

All meals, camping gear and daily rides to view whales are conveniently included, as well as transport over to the Pacific side of the peninsula. Some of your guides may even be marine biologists. Now that you've seen the whales, you just might be inspired to save them! You'll return to Loreto or LaPaz at the end of your stay at camp for a good night's sleep in the hotel after an orientation meeting for your kayak trip.

Time to go kayaking! After a thorough safety orientation, you'll launch the kayaks and head out for five days and four nights of camping on the islands in the Sea of Cortez. Enjoy sunrises and sunsets that will reinvent the rainbow! In between, you'll be busy discovering the hidden secrets of the cliffs and coves. Besides some killer kayaking, other activities will include superb snorkeling, swell swimming and terrific tide pooling. You could also choose to just walk the pristine beaches, or join us on a hike for visually rich views of the surrounding desert area.

You'll paddle about three or four hours per day if conditions allow, but mother nature will ultimately determine your routes and time on the water. On your final day of kayaking, you'll return to the hotel in the early afternoon with plenty of time to clean up before a farewell dinner with your guides and group. You'll enjoy one final night in the tour hotel in Loreto or LaPaz to rest after your adventure.

It's sad to say good-bye the lovely Baja, but at least you have a host of wonderful memories to take with you! We can arrange to extend your holiday using our preferred rates if ten days just isn't enough. There are day tour and add-on options aplenty! You can go whale watching in the Sea of Cortez off Loreto to look for blue and fin whales, snorkel with whale sharks in La Paz, hike a canyon, or learn about the fascinating desert culture of Baja.

For similar but shorter trips, consider the following options:

3x3 Combo: 3 days kayaking plus 3 days at our whale camp in Magdalena Bay - our most popular trip!

Just the whale camp! We are delighted to organize whale camp only itineraries without kayaking.

Please note: We will always do our best to make good on the schedule listed above. However, the included itinerary may be subject to adjustments due to reasons beyond our control (e.g., wind, waves, inclement weather). Please note that the kayaking section of your tour may precede the whale watching.

Please Note: This tour involves transportation to and from Loreto or La Paz to the whale camp at Magdalena Bay. An additional transportation fee of $50 will be added to any combo trips running in LaPaz. Guests requesting a trip arriving in La Paz and departing in Loreto (or vice versa), if the option is available, may also be subject to additional fees for shuttle transportation. Please discuss this with our office staff if it's something you're interested in.

ALL PRICES IN US DOLLARS. We will do our best to adhere to the itineraries and trip descriptions listed on our website. However, tour itineraries or sub contractors (such as taxi, cruise boats or hotels) may change slightly due to reasons beyond our control including but not limited to Acts of God, wind, waves, inclement weather or other. We always welcome you to call us to clarify any item - often this is the best way to fully clarify expectations - call us collect or on our toll-free number. You will be sent pre-trip email with latest details within a month of your tour - it is your responsibility to check in with us prior to your trip to see if you have all the information you need. We will always do our best to provide you with the best possible tour and to fully meet your expectations to the best of our ability.

Single Supplement: If you wish to gaurantee yourself a solo hotel room and tent while kayaking a $180 fee for Loreto or a $157.50 fee for LaPaz fee will be added on to the final charge.

Tour Includes:
• Full services of our Adventure Consultants
• Professional naturalist and bi-lingual guides
• All meals and beverages as indicated on the itinerary
• Hotel before and after the tour (and between activities when dictated by the itinerary)
• All transportation while on tour
• All kayaking, camping and snorkeling equipment

• Whale watching sessions by Panga

• Panga supported kayking tour

• Taxes

Tour Does Not Include:
• Airfare
• Transportation to and from the airport
• $25 National Park fee
• Gratuities
• Items of a personal nature

Why Choose Us?

Established Experience

We directly operate our trips in Baja, as we have done since 1993. We started in Magdalena Bay and now hold permits both in this exquisite area among the gray whales as well as the Sea of Cortez. These decades of experience have allowed us to refine our operations to perfection and show you the very best of Baja.

Phenomenal Guides

All of your guides are native, bilingual Mexicans. Many are marine biologists who graduated from the University of La Paz. and bring a wealth of knowledge about their favorite flora and fauna. Others are men and women of the sea, born and raised on the waters of Baja to fishing families and small-town heritage. They have taught themselves English and have attained the same high, BCU kayak standards as required of all our guides.

Packages Include:Hotel accommodations before, in between activites and after the tour, all paddling and camping equipment, all snorkeling gear, all meals and beverages once the tour begins, bi-lingual certified Guides and the full service of our Adventure Consultants. Dates provided reflect your arrival date; all packages include an arrival and departure day.

Packages do not Include: Airfare, transportation to and from airport, gratuities, $25 National Park Fee, and items of a personal nature.

When is the best time to go & see whales?

Our Combo tours are offered late January through mid-March, when the gray whales are present in Magdalena Bay to calve. We GUARANTEE gray whale sightings on our combo tours! This time of year in Baja can have cooler days (75-80*F/23-27*C) and a chance of wind, with temperatures rising in late February and March. As an added bonus to spring trips, the islands of Loreto National Marine Park, located in the Sea of Cortez (where you will kayak), are home for 6 different species of whales including Blue, Fin, Sei, Humpback, Bryde's and Pilot whales. They swim up into the Sea of Cortez from late January through April. There are few other places that harbor such a concentration and diversity of whales.

What kind of kayaks do you use?

For all of our Baja tours we use high quality, fiberglass kayaks, made by Seward. The majority of our fleet is comprised of tandems, as these boats offer the greatest stability, speed, and ease of paddling. There are typically a small number of single kayaks present on the tour, which will be utilized by the guides. Depending on weather conditions, and interest, they may allow guests to rotate into singles; however this will be at the guide's' discretion based on safety and the paddling objectives for the day. We also have a limited number of solo kayaks available to reserve and use throughout the trip (for an additional cost) for paddlers who have ocean kayaking experience.

Are your kayak trips motorboat supported?

Yes, if at any time a guest does not want to paddle they are welcome to ride in the panga instead.

Can I paddle a single kayak?

We have single kayaks available to reserve and use throughout the trip (for an additional cost of $100) for paddlers who have previous ocean paddling experience. If you would like to reserve a single kayak for your trip you will need to contact our Adventure Consultants to add this to your reservation and provide a summary of your ocean paddling experience.

What are the physical requirements for this trip?

When stopping at shore, you should be able to climb in and out of the kayaks on your own. They will be floating in calf-deep water. Your guides are happy to assist, but balance and limberness are required. When you get to your evening campsite, all group members must to be able to help carry the kayaks above the high tide line, in teams of 6-8, before the group disperses. You will change camp sites almost every night, but may have a layover day. Camp sites are assigned by the National Park Service immediately prior to the tour.

What’s camp like? Are there toilets and showers at camp?

During the kayaking portion of the tour, you will paddle to a new campsite almost every day but may have a layover day. Campsites are assigned by the National Park Service immediately prior to the tour. We endeavor to secure the very best campsites for the natural beauty and amenities of the area. Your guides will give a demonstration of how to set up and take down your provided dome tent. We also will provide you with a sleeping bag, liner sheet, pillow and an inflatable thermarest sleeping pad. There will be a kitchen/dining area and shade tarps where you can sit back and relax. While kayaking, we can only carry enough fresh water for drinking and cooking. There are no fresh water sources on most of the coastline and islands we visit. You can clean up with saltwater and soap off above the high tide line, or bring disposable shower wipes. A porta potty will fit into a hatch of the kayak or on the panga support boat, and will be transported to each campsite and set into a sheltered area for solid waste. Liquid waste can be expelled below the high tide line, or in a separate porta-potty bucket.

While on the whale watching portion of the tour, you will stay at our exclusive base camp located on a sand-dune barriers island. Our whale camp has pre-assembled roomy full-height wall tent with two cots, night stand, rectangular sleeping bag with clean sheet, small pillow, and comfortable self-inflating pad are provided for your convenience at camp. There is also a washroom tent with a portable toilet. We recommend packing biodegradable shower wipes to freshen up with as there is no fresh water at whale camp.

What gear do I need?

Sea Kayak Adventures will provide you with a detailed packing list prior to your trip. We provide all of the necessary camping, paddling and snorkeling equipment, which you will need to fully enjoy your adventure. If you are interested in more specific information, check out our general Bajapacking list here! If you have any questions, or need help deciding what to bring, you can call or e-mail one of our friendly Adventure Consultants at any time for some extra advice!

Who will my guides be?

We know your Guide will make the biggest difference on your trip! Which is why we pride ourselves on employing only the best local guides for all of the incredible locations that we visit. Part of this is to support our eco-tourism efforts, but we also believe that there is no better way to experience a new destination than through they eyes of a local! We find talented and skilled local guides, train and certify them, and provide a positive and consistent source of income to them and their families. Most of our guides are with us for the long-term, despite the seasonal nature of the industry.

What kind of food will I eat? Do you accommodate dietary restrictions?

Our renowned wilderness meals are prepared daily by our guides using local, fresh, healthy ingredients. In Baja you can expect an authentic dining experience, with savory dishes like chiles rellenos, tostadas, ceviche, and chicken mole. We even serve delicious desserts like brownies and pineapple upside-down cake! Each morning, we serve up freshly brewed coffee or tea. Throughout the day we provide an abundance of local fruits, vegetables, and other snacks. Wine and mixed drinks are served with hors d’oeuvres each evening for happy hour.

We do our best to accommodate special dietary requests, working within the parameters of the destinations in which we operate. If you have a very strict diet, we recommend packing extra snacks that you know you can eat.

The tour cost is based on double occupancy on the included hotel nights. Solo travelers can pay a single supplement of $175 for their own rooms, or can be matched up with another solo same-sex traveler if one is available and willing to share. Solo travelers can have their own tent while kayaking and will typically have their own tent at whale camp, however we are unable to guarantee this. The tents are very spacious full-height canvas wall tents with two cots.

Is there a deposit required? Is my deposit refundable?

A deposit of $300 per person is required within 10 days of your reservation to hold your spaces. If the tour you are signing up for is a confirmed departure your deposit is non-refundable. For this reason, we strongly encourage you to purchase travel insurance to protect your vacation investment. US residents may purchase travel insurance directly through ROW Sea Kayak Adventures offered byTravel Insured International.

What is your cancellation policy?

If you find it necessary to cancel your trip, you should notify ROW Sea Kayak Adventures in writing, by e-mail or fax immediately. If written cancellation is received (call to verify) before the final balance is due, you will be given a refund less the amount of deposit. Deposits are not refundable. If cancellations are made on or after the final due date, no money will be refunded. If you are unable to go on the trip, you are welcome to find a replacement for yourself. Please understand that once you've signed up, we are unable to sell your reserved space to other individuals or groups. Therefore, we regret that we cannot make exceptions for personal emergencies. For this reason we strongly recommend you consider purchasing a Travel Protection Plan to protect your vacation investment.

When is payment in full due?

Full payment is due 60 days prior to the launch date, as indicated on your invoice. Due to the high demand for these trips, please be sure to pay your balance on time so as to not jeopardize your reservation. Your final payment must be paid by check or bank draft in US funds. Alternatively, you may pay your final balance with a credit card, but a 3% administrative fee will be added.